TEDxYouth@Manchester 2011 - Julian Baggini - Is There A Real You?

One of the best known philosophers in the UK, Julian will ask the question 'Is There A Real You? He will draw on the research supporting his latest book 'The Ego Trick' and challenge our audience to reflect on their understanding of the 'Self'.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Nazareadain]

this is part of why i break out in what is perceived as unexplainable anger whenever I hear people say "just be yourself". if i finally gain the presence of mind to wipe the foam from my chin and form coherent sentences i respond with "which one?"

I don't know about you, but I don't treat my friends the same way i do my grandmother, and i don't go up to her and say "yo momma's so fat" for shits and giggles. We all play several roles, or selves - and none of them are less real than the others.

[SuntzuMocro]

@whitemoiddes,

Partly true, if you are somehow born without a tongue you will never be able to talk like someone born with a tongue. It doesn't care how much you want or try.

We fancy the believe of being able to overcome our limitations, cause the opposite leaves us vulnerable. But the fact is we are vulnerable.

[Staldren]

They should just say that the soul or spirit is an illusion, that's what it is, it's a more religious than scientific concept, a human construction.

[Margaret J]

Is he related to David Cameron? Looks a bit like him.

[Omni315]

it explains the thing *you* already know.

[dpcnull]

Tackiest TED intro I've ever seen in my life...

[songbird193]

I love how he speaks so casually while my brain explodes in response to this philosophy I've never even considered before.

[hardlinemonk]

Wow what an incredibly intelligent yet simple conclusion. Why didn't I think about this concept? Also a freaky realization that permanence / the metaphorical "soul" now appears to be much more unlikely. We are simply a collection of experiences and ideas adopted from others in the past. "If you have a memory transplant are you the same person...?" Oh the things that keep me up at night!!

[v2009ish]

useless.........as it explains the basic things that we already know!!! useless!

[stijn haex]

we are a system that uses other systems and we're part of bigger systems, but we're still a system.

[sketchup73]

Those who seek will never find,...the more one seeks, the more the universe rearranges itself to accomodate ones desire to seek.

[sandspar]

I realized excatly this 4 decades ago as I sipped hydrogen w/ Dr.Leary on the moon ...